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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 4
“Sure his past is ugly but I’ve learned that when you start flinging mud you better have a good cover and you did sell the team to him.” He narrowed his eyes and glared at Asa for a second then puffed on his cigar and shifted his gaze up to the ceiling. Why exactly was he talking to this man again? Asa tapped his glass on the table. “So what’s you argument now, Carl? You didn’t know about his past? Makes you look lame.” Carl leveled his gaze on Asa. "He seems not to know who he’s messing with here.” “Looky, Carl. Let him dress up in blue and gold and strut his family around. He’ll get bored soon enough. Can’t recapture that dream then he’ll sell to me.” “And that’s supposed to be better how?” “Shit. At least we speak the same damn language. I bet you can find something to make me sell back to you a damn sight quicker than you’ll find something that’ll make that Manning dog cave.” “Shouldn’t underestimate me.” Asa drained his glass and signaled for another bourbon. “Don’t let Manning fool your ass. He’s a dangerous son of a bitch.” “And you’re not.” “I’ve got finesse. Can’t be a Texan and not know the art of finesse. I may cut your throat but you’ll be smiling and thanking me the whole time. Style. Texas style. Manning wouldn’t recognize style if was branded on the side of the bull dragging him by his balls.” Carl chuckled quietly and watched as the waiter placed Asa's refill in front of him. He hated to admit how much alike they really were but in truth they understood each other in a way few men could. And he knew Asa was right about Manning, but he'd still have to think about everything from every angle before he acted. He'd probably end up, though, right back at the same spot where that shrewd old devil planted his flag in the first place. The fact of the matter was that getting the team away from Asa down the road would be easier than prying it away from Manning. He and Asa walked the same walk, they talked the same talk and Asa was as likely to have his back as stab him in it. Maybe Asa could help him with the other thing, too. “How long have we known each other, Asa?” “Trick question? Okay, I’ll bite. Too long.” “This is a new situation for me. Not sure quite how to step. I want Cassie back and I’m not libel to be in the mood to take no for an answer.” Asa puffed out his cheek with his tongue for a moment then cleared his throat. “May have to cut your losses there, Partner. She’s related to Manning’s slutty she-wolf for one thing. And though Cassie’s a sweet, young filly, she has enough baggage to be a damn over-the-hill mule. Most of it has curly dark hair and a loud mouth.” “Can you cut out the Texas cornpone for just a minute and tell it to me straight?" “Her name’s Dorian. Can’t get much plainer than that.” “Dorian? Who’s Dorian? Wait, you mean her mother?” Asa whooped loudly. “I should have known that Cassie would keep you a secret from Dorian. That explains a lot.” “Like what?” “If you knew Dorian, you wouldn’t have to ask. Pray you are still asking ‘Who’s Dorian?’ if you get Cassie back.” “I’ll get her back and her mother won't have a damn thing to say about it or what happens next. It's just that I want to do it the right way so it will stick this time.” “Well, then you go for it, boy. Things been way too quiet around here as far as I’m concerned.” “Not being much help here.” “Not my job or my avocation.” Asa stretched then stood up. “Thanks for the drink. Got things to do. See you around.” He winked. “Probably in the owners box at The Tornadoes, real soon.” Shuttlesworth watched Asa walk out of Carmine’s then signaled for another drink. He was lonely. Even his damn children had deserted him. Robyn, the backstabber, was running around Europe with that sleazy rock star wannabe, doing God only knows what. And Heather, his Number One, was sitting up in her apartment surrounded by cartons of ice cream, acting like a fool, getting fat and slow. Far as he could tell she hadn’t left that damn apartment in weeks. And over what? That damn worthless quarterass, Bryan Treyscott. He never believed he could be as disappointed in two people as he was in Heather and Robyn. And it all landed right at the feet of Todd Manning, who needed to be watching his damn back, that’s for sure. But in the final analysis, Robyn and Heather could take care of themselves. He had damn well taught them how. This wasn't about Heather or Robyn. He was lonely because he missed Cassie and he never missed anybody. How in the hell had he let himself fall in love? What in the hell was wrong with him? What in the hell was wrong with her? He gave up the damn team for her. Wasn’t that enough?
When Blair looked up and saw Dorian standing in the doorway of her office, her heart first did a happy dance and then quickly careened toward dread. It was the steely expression on Dorian’s face, the rigid posture and the way her hair seemed to glow as if there was a fire burning beneath her skull. “It is so nice to have a place to talk to you that doesn’t involve running into that husband of yours. How he produced that beautiful son is beyond me.” “Dorian.” “And it so nice to see my girls getting along. Working here together, sharing responsibilities and becoming more and more independent. Staying on top of the happenings in each other’s lives.” Oh shit. “Of course you can’t be that close. I mean I couldn’t imagine that Cassie would be dating some immoral, billionaire pervert and you not tell me about it.” “Dorian.” “Nope. My girls wouldn’t keep secrets like that from me.” “Dorian.” “I have two things to say to you. First, Asa wants the team and in exchange for the information I just received about my daughter that should have come from other people, I promised him I’d get it for him. Tell your husband not to unpack his little cardboard box and settle into the office suite at The Tornadoes. Second, tell Cassie when you see her that I’ll bury him alive before I let Carl Shuttlesworth have my daughter.” Dorian turned on her heels and walked out of the office. Blair flopped down in her desk chair. Todd had heard a rumbling all right and it just stomped out of her office.
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